(update) SpaceX mission to space station faces a big day on April 16

View full sizeA SpaceX rocket with a Dragon capsule on top sits at the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla., awaiting a planned April 30 launch toward the International Space Station. (SpaceX photo)

HOUSTON, Texas -- Mark down Monday, April 16, as a big day in the history of Space Exploration Technologies' plans to become the first commercial company to service the International Space Station. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk certainly has made note. Musk has announced plans to be in Houston for a press conference following a crucial pre-flight hurdle.

SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket into space April 30 with an unmanned Dragon capsule on top. The Dragon would approach the station for maneuvers demonstrating its capabilities. If those maneuvers go well, the plan is for astronauts aboard the station to grab the Dragon with an onboard grapple and bring it to the station for a docking. The capsule would then be released for a return to Earth and recovery.

Monday, NASA, space station partners and SpaceX will conduct a pre-flight review of preparations for the launch and the rocket's readiness. If that review, which is expected to be complete by early afternoon, looks good, SpaceX will continue with its plans. Musk's planned arrival in Houston and the key NASA managers also planning to attend suggest optimism the flight will go ahead. Also attending the briefing will be

William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations; Michael Suffredini, International Space Station program manager; Alan Lindenmoyer, Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program manager; and Holly Ridings, NASA flight director. No time for the briefing has been announced, but it will be broadcast live on NASA TV.

(Update: This story was updated to change the date of the flight review and press conference to April 16)